SanDisk Extreme PRO USB4 2TB Review – Lightning-Fast External Storage done right

The SanDisk Extreme PRO USB4 2TB represents the cutting edge of portable storage technology, bringing USB4 speeds to an external drive. With read speeds up to 3800 MB/s and write speeds up to 3700 MB/s, this drive promises to change how we think about external storage, its performance, and its usage.

The drive definitely delivers on its speed promises while maintaining the rugged reliability SanDisk is known for.

Unboxing and Packaging Contents

Inside the box, you’ll find the drive itself, a USB-C to USB-C cable, a quick install guide, and the SanDisk warranty documentation.

The included USB-C cable supports the full USB4 specification, so you won’t need to worry about buying a separate cable to achieve maximum performance.

Design and Build Quality

The SanDisk Extreme PRO USB4 measures 5.51″ x 2.7″ x 0.47″ and weighs 172.37 grams, making it noticeably larger and heavier than standard USB drives but still portable. The design combines a rugged silicone shell with a forged aluminium chassis that feels incredibly solid in hand. The larger size compared to standard portable drives actually works in its favour here, providing more surface area for heat dissipation and room for proper thermal management components.

The drive features an IP65 water-resistant rating, which means it can handle splashes, rain, and accidental spills without breaking a sweat. It’s meant to be portable anywhere and you shouldn’t need to worry if it gets wet from the rain inside your pants pocket or backpack.

Drop protection is rated up to 2 meters, and the rugged construction shows. The silicone shell provides excellent grip and shock absorption, while the aluminum chassis adds structural integrity. It’s definitely built for daily use in different environment conditions, including outdoor projects where tradies work.

Thanks to USB4 support and theoretical speeds of up to 3800 MB/s read and 3700 MB/s write, this drive is roughly 7-8 times faster than typical USB 3.2 drives. The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V2 I reviewed before had a USB3.2 Gen 2 (even faster), benchmarked with having 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speed. That’s triple if you do the calculations which translates to much faster reading and writing data.

For content creators working with large 4K or 8K video files, hundreds of large RAW photos, or anyone dealing with massive datasets, this speed difference is definitely noticeable. When you have to transfer large amount of data on a daily basis or backing up big server data, the investment looks even more intriguing. The drive maintains consistent performance even during sustained transfers. I moved over a variety of small and big data (over 100GB) in multiple sessions without experiencing any thermal throttling or performance drops, which speaks to the quality of the internal components and thermal management.

Don’t have a computer with USB4 interface yet? Not to worry as the SanDisk Extreme PRO USB4 has backwards compatibility. The drive works perfectly with older USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 devices, plus it supports Thunderbolt 4 connectivity. This means you can use it with virtually any modern device, from your latest laptop to older desktop computers.

When connected to USB 3.2 ports, the drive performs at the expected USB 3.2 speeds without any compatibility issues. The drive automatically negotiates the best possible connection speed based on your device’s capabilities, making it truly plug-and-play across different systems.

Here are my tests using a variety of USB ports with CrystalDiskMark, using random data:

On USB4 Thunderbolt with my HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 laptop vs USB 3.2 Gen 2 on my Desktop:

The drive works with Windows, macOS, and Linux systems without requiring any special drivers or software. For users who want additional features, SanDisk provides their SanDisk SecureAccess software for password protection and file encryption.

SanDisk Extreme PRO USB4 Review Conclusion

The SanDisk Extreme PRO USB4 represents a significant step forward in portable storage technology. The combination of blazing-fast USB4 speeds, rugged construction, and comprehensive compatibility makes this drive suitable for both professional and personal use.

While the premium pricing might deter casual users, anyone who regularly works with large files will find the speed improvements tremendously useful. The ability to edit 4K video directly from an external drive or transfer hundreds of gigabytes in minutes rather than hours changes how you approach file management and backup.

The rugged construction and 5-year warranty provide peace of mind for users who need reliable storage they can depend on. The backwards compatibility also ensures this drive will remain useful even as you upgrade systems over time.

For content creators, photographers, videographers, and anyone who values time savings in their workflow, the SanDisk Extreme PRO USB4 2TB is an excellent investment that delivers on its performance promises.

Disclosure: SanDisk Extreme PRO USB4 2TB review unit was supplied for reviewing